Dear Needham Families: Cross your fingers... Spring is around the corner! Allow me to share some important updates and information: •* No Homework Night March 12th *Tomorrow evening March 12th, the Needham Public Schools will observe *No Homework Night* as part of Needham Unplugged, a month long program sponsored by Needham Youth Services. The goal of *No Homework Night* is to give students, parents, and families an excuse to enjoy some down time and family time together in the evening. I have asked our teachers not to assign homework tomorrow evening, and I hope you will have a chance to catch up and enjoy a family meal or just relax with one another! For more information, about this month's activities: Needham Unplugged <http://www.needhamma.gov/DocumentCenter/View/10735> *• S.T.E.A.M Night March 19th at Newman's Science Center *Come and celebrate the 50th Anniversary of the Science Center on Thursday evening, March 19th at Newman. Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Math (STEAM) activities, demonstrations, and hands on projects will provide an evening of fun and learning for all children. For more information please visit our website: Needham Science Center: STEAM Night <http://rwd1.needham.k12.ma.us/science_center/> *• Meet & Greet Your School Committee!* The Needham School Committee will hold its spring Open House on Saturday, March 21st from 9 until 10:30 a.m. at Pollard Middle School. The Open House is an informal opportunity for parents and community members to stop by for a cup of coffee and meet School Committee members and share ideas, questions, and concerns. Additionally, several Pollard students will be on hand to share their learning experiences with the iPads that have been introduced there as a pilot program. Please stop by Saturday morning, March 21st to meet your School Committee and learn more about the District's Personalized Learning Initiative. For more information about the use of iPads in the middle school: Personalized Learning Initiative <https://sites.google.com/a/needham.k12.ma.us/hrtechresources/home> *• April 7th School Committee Meeting in Boston *In its continuing efforts to engage families and support Boston-resident students, the Needham School Committee will hold its regularly scheduled meeting at Jeremiah Burke High School in Boston on Tuesday, April 7th beginning at 7:00 p.m. All are welcome to attend the meeting which is open to the public and will be held in the school's library. The agenda will include updates from high school student groups, budget issues, and a METCO Program update. The complete agenda will be posted on the District's website later this month. *• Hillside Project Moves Forward! *Yesterday the Massachusetts School Building Authority (MSBA) named Dore and Whittier Architects, Inc. as the designer for the first phase of the Hillside school renovation/construction project. While there are many steps ahead before a construction project can start, naming the designer is an important milestone that moves the community closer to a new school for Hillside. *• Superintendent's Blog *My most recent post can be found here: METCO Cuts Unreasonable! <http://npssuperintendent.blogspot.com/> *• NEF Spelling [?] *The NEF is celebrating its 25th Anniversary with a big weekend event, including a pancake breakfast and the bee: NEF Spelling Bee <http://www.nefneedham.org/events/spelling-bee/> *• NHS Ski Team Achieves Top Honor *Congratulations to the NHS Ski Team for receiving the prestigious Massachusetts Interscholastic Athletic Association's (MIAA) Winter Sportsmanship Award. The athletes and coaches were honored by the MIAA for their teamwork, sense of fair play, good spirit, and genuine commitment to sportsmanship and mature, intelligent behavior. These fine young men and women bring honor and distinction to the Needham community, and we are very proud of them. As always, please feel free to contact me with questions, concerns, or ideas: dan_gutekanst@needham.k12.ma.us or 781.455.0400, x 203. Respectfully, Dan Gutekanst Superintendent of Schools
